For a White Sox team looking to add some power to its lineup, it appears they have already hit a home run with their newest free agent signing.
Munetaka Murakami was widely regarded as one of the most captivating players entering free agency. In eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami compiled 246 home runs, drove in 647 RBIs, won two MVP awards, and led Nippon Professional Baseball in home runs, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage, and OPS.
At just 25 years old he was the youngest free agent on the market, and already carried a proven track record, hitting 36 homers as a teenager in 2019, then followed that up with a 56 home run season in 2022, breaking the record for a Japanese-born player.
It’s one of the reasons that his face was plastered on newspapers across Japan as he was introduced to the Chicago media for the first time on Monday. Murakami wasted no time making a strong first impression.
He made a genuine effort to answer questions in English, brought out a pair of literal white socks to display at the press conference as a nod of affection to his new team, and announced that he would donate $100 grocery gift certificates to one hundred Chicago families served by the St. James Food Pantry, along with an additional $10,000 donation to the pantry itself.
His signing is monumental for several reasons. Most notably, it reestablishes the White Sox’s presence in Asia. Before Murakami, the last Japanese-born player to wear a White Sox uniform was Kosuke Fukudome, who appeared in just 24 games during the 2012 season.
It also signals a shift in strategy under White Sox general manager Chris Getz. Murakami’s two-year contract will cost the organization $40.5 million, carrying an average annual value of $17 million, in addition to a $6.575 million posting fee paid to the Yakult Swallows for his transfer to Chicago.
After committing $5 million to Anthony Kay and exercising Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million option, Murakami’s $34 million contract likely represents the White Sox’s final major free-agent expenditure. In past offseasons, the club might have distributed that money across fringe depth pieces and replacement-level players, hoping one or two would stick.
This time, Getz is betting on a potential high-impact talent. The move was so uncharacteristic for the White Sox that Getz admitted he worked closely with the club’s marketing team to convince Jerry Reinsdorf of Murakami’s significant international impact in order to push the deal across the finish line.
While it is an embarrassing omission for a team trying to play catch-up in the modern age of baseball, it was an important step in the right direction.
The deal appears to be a win-win for both sides. While early reports suggested Murakami was seeking a five-year contract, the two-year arrangement gives him time to adjust to the major leagues while positioning himself to cash in again when he reaches free agency at age 28.
Just as importantly, he will face less immediate pressure joining a rebuilding White Sox team, allowing him to develop without the weight of championship expectations. Roki Sasaki serves as a prime example of how overwhelming expectations can affect a player transitioning from Japan, as he struggled early on under the intense spotlight in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.
The White Sox also have a young up-and-coming lineup, which is one of the things that attracted Murakami to the South Side. In Japan, Murakami also played for a very young Swallows squad that won the title in 2021.
“I’ve heard this club has lost a lot of games in the past. But that is the past and I can only look forward,” Murakmai told the Chicago media. “My goal is to win, continuously grow, and to challenge myself. No matter who the opponent is, I will never give up.”
For the White Sox, Murakami should provide an immediate boost. While the team is not expected to contend for a playoff spot, competing in a relatively weak AL Central should offer a softer landing for his first taste of big-league action.
He also brings value off the field. From a marketing standpoint, international stars can be transformative. The Dodgers, for example, reportedly recouped much of their investment in Shohei Ohtani within just two seasons of his 10-year, $700 million contract, largely due to the surge of attention and fan interest from Japan. While Murakami isn't as dynamic as Ohtani, he is still a proven star, one who delivered a clutch walk-off double against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic to send Japan to the championship game.
Although there are some concerns about Murakami’s defense and high whiff rate, the White Sox are not locked in long-term, which minimizes the risk. Regardless of how he performs, they are set to benefit from the added eyeballs from Japan that a two-time NBP MVP brings.
